Gavin Newsom's Moral Imperative: Commute All of California's Death Sentences
With the stroke of his pen, California Governor Gavin Newsom could have a significant impact on the death penalty across the US. Though Newsom lacks the power to end capital punishment in California, he could take executive action to commute the sentences of the roughly 700 condemned awaiting execution in in the state—a death row figure [...]
How a National Human Rights Act Could Change Rights Protection in Australia
Australia is the only Western democracy not to have a Human Rights Act in its legal system or constitution. Instead, Australia has a patchwork of rights, leaning on individual legislation, such as the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1977, implied rights, common law, and state-by-state legislation. As noted by the Australian Human Rights Commission, “There are five [...]
The Australian federal government Tuesday banned TikTok on government devices following advice from national intelligence agencies. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced that the viral media platform will be prohibited on devices issued by Commonwealth departments and agencies. “After receiving advice from intelligence and security agencies, today I authorised the Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department to issue [...]
The Organization of American States’ (OAS) was presented with a crucial opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to democracy last month, as its Permanent Council turned its attention towards Haiti. The nation’s current crisis is one that is directly connected to the actions taken by members of its ruling Tèt Kale party (PHTK), which for the [...]
The US Supreme Court Monday denied review of a US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit decision favoring Walmart in a race bias lawsuit brought by a former pharmacist. Yves Wantou, a former pharmacist at a Walmart in Texas, filed a lawsuit against Walmart in the Western District of Texas in 2016 claiming racial [...]
US releases Afghan Guantánamo Bay detainee after 15 years of incarceration
The US Department of Defense Friday announced the release of Asadullah Haroon Gul, an Afghan national who had been held for 15 years without charge in the Guantánamo Bay detention camp. Gul was incarcerated in Guantánamo Bay in 2007 on accusations of being a member of Al-Qaeda and Hezb-e-Islami (HIA), an insurgent group that fought [...]
A Turkish court Monday sentenced activist Osman Kavala to a life sentence. The sentence came from an arrest in 2013 over the Gezi protests. The protest was a small demonstration in Istanbul park which later led to a nationwide anti-government protest. Originally found guilty of charges in 2013 for being a part of the protests, [...]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Monday lamented the four-year trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that failed to uncover the complete truth behind the 2017 murders of two UN experts, Zaida Catalán and Michael Sharpe, and their Congolese interpreter and motorbike drivers. Zaida Catalán, a Swedish-Chilean citizen, and Michael Sharpe, an American citizen, were [...]
Congo court sentences 51 individuals to death over 2017 murder of UN experts
A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sentenced 51 individuals to death Saturday in relation to the 2017 murder of two UN experts. Zaida Catalán, a Swedish-Chilean citizen, and Michael Sharpe, an American citizen, were members of the Group of Experts on the DRC. They had been appointed to investigate the violence [...]
Explainer: The SEC, Climate Disclosures, and a New Global Standard
When it comes to the performances of companies and financial markets around the world, the influences of climate change and social issues cannot be understated. Toward this end, investors are increasingly prioritizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, with climate change broadly understood to be among the most imminent threats. The U.S. Securities and Exchange [...]
